First time around for bulk/cut

[maverick]

Well, I've spent the last couple months working out and waking my body up from the slumber its been in since high school. It's time to start a serious training program. I weigh 173 lbs. and I'm 6'0" and have been very active (5 out 7 days a week lifting)

I've read the stickied threads and I had a few questions on starting my first actual weight training regimen with bulk/cut cycles. I learned the proper foods I should be eating, approximate protein intake, importance of certain carbs, but I've seen a lot of wavering on caloric intake during bulk periods. For someone of my dimensions and activity level, with the goal maximizing my size gains (not a unique goal, I know), what should be my approximate caloric intake for my bulk/cut cycle?

I've read about a few programs, Max-OT and Hiit for example, and was wondering which were the best for size gains, as opposed to focusing on stength gains? The journals seem very Max-OT oriented, but I thought I'd ask. Are these programs only for bulk periods or are they continued through cutting periods?

For the 5-6 suggested meals a day, is there an chronological order I should be getting in my carbs, proteins, fats, etc..? What should be an ideal ratio of fat/protein/carbs? Does this ratio change between bulk/cut periods?

Thanks a lot guys and I apologize if this is a repeat for many of you. I found a lot of varying information on these few topics and thought I might get better answers if they were geared towards me specifically.

[maverick]

OK, maybe my first post was asking for the all answers without enough of my own thoughts.

With my current size, would a 2800/2000 calorie diet for bulking/cutting be reasonable? The 40/40/20 protein/carbs/fats split seems popular. Would it be appropriate for both bulking and cutting phases?

[Lift2Live]

It's really a very tough set of questions to answer. Your body is unique to everyone elses. How many calories you need will differ but, there are a few basics to start with. Calorie expenditure depending on activity level and caloric intake. 500 cals above or below maintenance is a base standard for bulking/cutting. As an example, if you are bulking at 3000 cals. a day and seeing gains, your maintenance level would assumably be about 2500 cals. and dropping another 500 would get you cutting up but, that seems a little low so I personally would go to 2250 or thereabouts. I would keep my protein very high and start dropping my carbs. Fats are about the same for me. It's just going to depend. I use a 55c/35p/10f ratio and that works for me but you may do well at 40/40/20. As a baisc rule of thumb, when you go to cut, just drop your cals. enough to where you start seeing a drop in bodyfat, keep protein high and carbs a hair lower. As for working out, continue to lift heavy. I don't use Max-OT so I won't speak for it but you want to continue to keep your body trying to add muscle while cutting to keep what you've gained since cutting will try to use that as a fuel source, the reason I suggest to keep protein intake high. If you want info on someone who's used Max-OT and cut up to competition bodyfat, look into Todd's pics and his cutting advice. http://www.discussfitness.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9048 http://www.discussfitness.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14187

[maverick]

Thanks for clearing some stuff up for me Lift2Live. I was hoping to post a journal up shortly with a new workout and diet and needed some general info on starting a serious training regimen.